SWIMMER Alisha Hawkins secured herself the perfect birthday present by winning a medal at the Edinburgh International Swim Meet.

Hawkins, who attends St Nicholas’ High School in Hartford and lives in Winsford, was in illustrious company in the Scottish capital at an event that also incorporated the British Championships, but she emerged with a junior silver medal in the 1500m freestyle event.

She came fourth overall, with Spanish Olympic medallist Mireia Belmonte taking victory, but she was the second junior swimmer to finish after City of Leeds’ Leah Crisp.

Hawkins, who swims for the Stockport Metro team, says picking up a medal just two days before her 17th birthday was “a great feeling” for her.

“Once I got out the pool, a person just appeared shouting my name, and was informing me I had to report back for medal presentation.

“I just said ‘who, me?’ I still didn’t understand what was actually happening!

“My phone went ballistic with so many messages from everyone.

“It was a great feeling. My coach gave me the day off as a birthday present!”

After braving the snowy conditions to reach Edinburgh with father Neil, the first morning of the competition saw nerves creep in for Hawkins in the 200m freestyle heats as she finished way down the timesheets.

However, she responded the next day by putting in a personal-best performance in the 800m, only to finish fourth in the junior event by a margin of less than a second.

Hawkins bounced back to qualify for the junior final of the 400m, where she finished fifth, before her 1500m exploits.

“Alisha has trained very hard leading up to this international meet,” Richard Blackshaw, Hawkins’ coach, said.

“It was a well-deserved result after coming so close in her other junior races.”

Hawkins’ next target will be the North West Regional Championships next month before aiming for the British Summer National Championships in July.